In European folklore, a horseshoe is commonly hung above a doorway to attract good luck.
The horseshoe’s association with protection and fortune has several overlapping explanations. Iron was historically regarded as a powerful protective material, and horses were economically important animals whose sound health mattered to households, farms, and armies. A horseshoe placed over an entrance therefore combined practical symbolism with older beliefs about iron warding off harmful forces.
Folklore differs on which direction the shoe should face. Some traditions say the open end should point upward so luck is collected; others turn it downward so luck pours over people entering. There is no single universal rule, and regional customs vary.
The object is also associated with Saint Dunstan, an English churchman in a later legend involving the Devil. That story is medieval folklore, not documented evidence that horseshoes possess supernatural powers. Today, horseshoes remain popular decorative symbols of luck.